Defendant Prosecuted under Federal “Worst of the Worst” Anti-Violence Initiative

ALBUQUERQUE – A previously deported felon from Mexico was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 80 months in federal prison for his conviction for unlawfully reentering the United States. He will be deported after completing his prison sentence.

Rene Gonzalez-Chavez, 33, of Chihuahua, Mexico, was charged on Sept. 24, 2014, in a criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after having been convicted of an aggravated felony. Gonzalez-Chavez had previously been deported from the United States on April 28, 2010, after he was convicted in April 2006, of multiple aggravated felonies including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, attempt to commit a felony, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit an aggravated burglary, and aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer.

Gonzalez-Chavez was subsequently indicted on Dec. 3, 2014, and charged with unlawful re-entry into the United States. The offense took place in Bernalillo County, N.M.

On Jan. 22, 2015, Gonzalez-Chavez pled guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Wei-Yu Wang is prosecuting this case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.